"Ryan Lochte was charged with the crime of falsely reporting a crime," Rio police said in a statement which added that the police had recommended the courts issue a summons for the Olympic gold medallist to be questioned.

"Once he is summoned, whether he turns up or not, the penalty is the same: one to six months' prison," the news website G1 Rio quoted police official Clemente Braune as saying.

"If he is summoned and does not turn up to the hearing, the trial will go ahead in the accused's absence until the final sentence is given."

Sponsors drop Lochte

Rio police chief Fernando Veloso had earlier told a news conference that the four swimmers fabricated the story when they tried to flee a petrol station after vandalising its bathroom.

A security guard confronted the swimmers and took out his pistol and made them sit on the ground. After paying around $50 in compensation for the damage, they left unharmed and returned to the athletes' village.